Cellphone Scam In Southern Idaho

Tools

By
Andrew Reed

Pocatello, Idaho ( KIFI-TV) Random dialing may be getting some cellphone users in the Snake River Region in trouble with their bills. Your cellphone will ring, and a phone number appears.

Before you can answer it, the call hangs up. Here's where the scam gets you - when you call back, it almost sounds like someone has dialed you on accident. You stay on the line hoping someone will answer.

What you don't know is the number is actually an international number, using a computer to automatically generate fake numbers to a not-so friendly phone call, usually with sounds of sexual intercourse, but sometimes simply putting you on hold and racking up your phone bill.

“When you call back, you’re automatically routed to an international adult entertainment or chat line in a non-U.S. location, where you can quickly incur expensive charges,” Robb Hicken, chief storyteller with Better Business Bureau serving the Snake River Region, said.Because you have dialed the number, the charges go on your bill, and they can add up quickly.

The Pocatello Police are reporting some have been charged $3 to $5 a minute, but calls to our station have reported even more expensive charges.

The numbers have several area codes reported, including 809, 876, 284 and 473. The Better Business Bureau says you are not required to answer these calls, and therefore should ensure a call from an unidentified number is not a scam before calling it back.

They also advise to look at your bills closely each month. Scammers bank on well phone users to just assume the charges are legitimate, when in fact there may be charges like these.

Scam Call Fighters is a group on Facebook with a lot of the numbers that have been called. Here is their Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/1ikTQVM